Stop motion for warp knitting machines



Aug. 28, 1934. P. H. QUICK ET AL STOP MOTION FOR WARP KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Aug. 28, 1934. P. H. QUICK El AL 1,971,427

STOP MOTION- FOR WARP KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS' Y da/x94 Qazc'l? k 5W far! A TTORNEY.-

Patented Aug. 28, 1934 PATENT, oFFicE 1,971,42 s'ror MOTION roa WARP KNITTING MACHINE Paul H. Quick and Earl WISimpson, Gloversville, N. Y., assignors to Kinlsboro Silk Mills, Inc.,

Gloversville, N. Y.

Application December 3, 1932, Serial No. 645,606

' 18 Claims. (Cl. 66-163) This invention relates to stop motions for knitting machines, and particularly for what are known as fast warp knitting machines.

In the operation of machines of this character breakage of the yarn and needles often occurs,

' requiring stoppage of the machine and tying of the broken threads or replacement of the broken needles, or both, at the cost of much time and labor. Cloth produced by such machines is frequently full of bullet holes, stop marks or other largeimperfections and cannot be sold at the price brought by perfect goods.

In an application for patent filed December 18,

1931, Serial No. 581,969, Paul H. Quick, one of the present inventors, has disclosed and claimed a stop motion for knitting machines of this character for effecting a quick and easy automatic stoppage of the machine after a thread or needle breaks, enabling a cloth of more perfect knit, namely, with smaller imperfections, to be produced, and at the same time reducing the amount of repairs to be made and the time periods of stoppage of the machine, whereby better quality goods at less cost may be made on the machine.

The stop motion mechanism of said application Serial No. 581,969 involves the'use of a gravity closing switch for each feeding warp thread, engaging the thread on its passage from the warp beam to the coacting needle at any point between the needle and a superposed tension rod or bar, said switchbeing held by thetensioned thread in open position and being released on the breakage of the needle or thread, or, in other words, whenever an abnormal degree of slack in the thread The main object of the present invention is to' provide means, for use in connection with mechanism of the kind shown in said application Serial No. 581,969, or a like mechanism, and for co-.

action with a circuit controlling switch of the character described whereby closing of the switch will bepermitt-ed and effected when the thread breaks or when the thread slackens on breakage of a needle, but which will prevent closing of the circuit by the switch when the thread momen-l ta-rily slackens in a normal knitting action and when neither the needle nor the thread is broken.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for the purpose described comprising an arrester operating in synchronism with the needle to interpose itself into the path of closing movement of the switch to prevent the switch from closing on each upward movement of the needle, at which time normal slack in the thread is liable to occur, and then to move out of the path of closing movement of the switch on the descent of the needle so as to permit the switch to close in the event the slack in the thread is not taken up by the pull of the needle sufficiently to prevent said switch from closing, which degree of slack would occur or remain present in the event of breakage, of the thread or needle or some other abnormal action of the machine.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combinationand arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being tively, the position of the parts in normal action on the up-stroke of the needle, and the circuit closing action on breakage of a thread.-

Fig'. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown our invention in connection with a stop motion mechanism of the type disclosed in the Quick application Serial No. 581,969, with which it has been designed to cooperate, and to this extent it may be considered as an improvement upon the stop motion mechanism of such application. It is to be understood, however, that we do not limit our invention to use in connection with the particular stop motion mechanism described, as it may be used with modifications or equivalents of the same, or others'designed and adapted to operate in the same or a similar manner.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the warp beam, 2 the cloth beam, 3 a guiding and'tensioning rod, 4 the sinkers, 5 one of the needles of the needle mecha-- nism, 6 one of the thread guides disposed adjacent to and above the needle 5 and between the same and the rod 3, 7 the shifting rod of the throw-off mechanism, and 8 the hand shaft of a warp knitting machine of the character described, all of which parts may be of ordinary or any approved construction. 9 denotes a warp thread which feeds from the beam, over the tension rod, and down to and through the guide 6 and needle 5, and 10 denotes a portion of knitted cloth which winds on beam 2.

A thread-controlled, automatic switch 11 is employed for governing a control circuit 12, one of which is provided for each warp thread and coacting elements of the knitting mechanism. This switch is of angle form and comprises a body portion 13 having obliquely disposed thread-engaging and contact arms 14 and 15, respectively. The body portion of the switch is pivotally mounted upon a rod or other support 16 forming one of the terminalsof the circuit 12 and the arm 15 is adapted for engagement with a contact 17 forming the other'terminal of the circuit, whereby said circuit is adapted to be closed by the switch in a certain position of the latter. The arm 14 of the switch is provided with an aperture 18 for passage of that portion of the thread 9 lying between the tension rod 3 and guide 6 and with a passage 19 allowing such portion of the thread to be manually inserted into and withdrawn from the aperture when desired. The arm 15 is of greater weight than the arm 14, and normally tends by its greater weight to tilt the switch to the circuit closing position shown in Fig. 3, in which arm 15 engages contact 17, but the switch is so arranged, i. e., with its pivot 16 so disposed with relation to the plane of that part of the thread extending between the tension rod 3 and the guide 6, that when such portion of the thread is engaged with arm 14 in the manner set forth arm 15 will be tilted upward into contact with a stop 20, while arm 14 will be drawn downward by the tension pull of the thread, in which position it forms an auxiliary guide for the thread and is held by the thread so as to maintain the switch in normally open or inoperative position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. As long, therefore, as the feeding thread is intact and under working tension, the switch will be held open, but in the event of the breaking of the thread, or of undue slack occurring in the thread due to breaking of the needle, the switch will be released by or relieved from the restraining action of the thread, and the switch, under the weightof detent 24' by said weighted. end 25 to lock.

said shifter rod from shifting movement. when the switch 11 closes the circuit 12 the magnet 23 is energized to attract contact 25 and thus retractthe latch 24, thus moving latch 24 out of the path of the detent 24' and releasing the rod '7 so that it may be actuated by its actuating coil the body of the throw-off the other end of the band is slidably coupled by a pressure spring adjuster 29, having a mating adjusting member 30, with the motion transmitting, arm 31 of a bell-crank lever- 32 slidably mounted on a bracket 33 on the machine, the

actuating arm 34 of which lever is coupled, as at 35, to an operating'stafi 36. This staff is'arranged to be engaged by a brake operating cam 37 on the rod 7, and this rod 7 or the cam 37 is connected to one end of a coiled throw-off spring 3'7 fastened or arranged to bear at its opposite end against a fixed part 37a of the machine, which spring is tensioned for action by movement of the shaft in the direction to retract cam 37 and engage detent 24' with latch 24, whereby when the electric circuit is-closed by the breaking of a thread or needle and the latch retracted to release the detent the rod 7 will be turned in the reverse direction to operate the throw-off mechanism and cam 37 will actuate band brake 27 to easily, but positively and quickly, .stop the machine. The coupling 35 forms a quick-detachable connection between the brake lever and its staii,

whereby the stafi may be freed for removal or so that it may be swung out of the path of the cam, thus permitting retraction of the brake band, allowing adjustment of the machine for replacement of a broken needle or turning over of the machine by hand to move the needles down into the sinkers in order that a broken and tied thread may be replaced in its proper guide.

In the normal operation of the machine, the switch 11 is held by the tension of the thread 9 in the open or full line position shown in Fig. l, and the brake band is in its release position and the shifting rod 7 held from action by the armature latch 24. When a thread breaks, the switch 11 is wholly relieved from any tension pull of the thread andmovestotheposition shown in Fig. 3 by the action of its arm 15 which drops by gravity into engagement with the contact 17. The electric circuit 12 is thus closed and the magnet 23 is energized to attract and retract the armature latch 24, thereby freeing the shifting. rod 7 for movement by its actuating spring to operate the throw-off mechanism. 0n the actuation of rod 7 the cam 37 engages stair 36 and applies the'brake band 27, and which will be locked in applied position by the pressure of the cam, the band operating to smoothly and quickly bring the machine to a stop so that the ends of the broken thread may be tied and placed back in the proper thread guide. As set forth, the brake staff isjointed or connected by a quick detachable coupling 35, which may be operated to disconnect or loosen the engagement between the staff andbrake lever sufiiciently to permit the staff to be moved out of engagement with the cam. The brake will thus be released, so that the hand shaft may be turned to operate the machine by hand to move the needles back into the sinkers in order that the broken thread may be placed in its proper; guide. The stop mechanismv also operates when a needle breaks, owing to the fact that the broken needle does not take up the entire amount of yam'which is pulled out from the warp by the other threads. Therefor the undue slackening of the thread,

allows the switch to engage the electrical contact 17 which closes the circuit and stops the machine. Owing to the fact that the circuit closing Switch normally operates toclose the cit cuit for actuation of the throw-oil and brake on the breakage or undue slackening of a thread, it

will be evident that the amount-of damage done Mil "occurring ter two or three motions of knitting,

slack and stop the machine.

minute character, allowing a fabric much freer than ordinary fabrics from knitting imperfections to be produced and a higher price obtained for such fabric.

The foregoing description applies to the normal operation of the stop motion mechanism of the Quick application Serial No. 581,969, when used without the. present invention and when employing threads above a certain degree of fineness. In employing threads of a certain degree of fineness, however, it has been found that in a normal knitting action a degree of slack may momentarily occur in the thread on the upstroke of the needle which, while not impairing the knitting action may be sufficient to' allow the switch 11 to engage the contact 17 at the moment of I The particular object of the present invention is to provide means for preventing the unnecessary and undesirable stoppage of the machine under such conditions.

In accordance with our invention we provide means for coaction with the switch 11 to hold such needle on its down stroke, and for thus prevent-- ing casual operation of the stop motion mechanism in any normal knitting action and until the thread breaks or an undue degree of slack occurs therein, such as caused by the breakage of the needle, owing to the fact that the broken needledoes not take up the entire amount of yarn which is pulled out from the warp by the other threads. The means provided for this purpose comprises a detent in the form of a motion arresting or stop blade or plate 38 mounted belowthe arm 15 of switch member 11 on a rock shaft 39 so as to swing between a horizontal position, in which it lies below the level of the contact 1'7, to a vertical position in which its upper edge lies above the level of said contact 17. When the plate 38 lies in a horizontal position it 'ofiers no obstruce tion to a free downward movement of switch arm .15 into engagement with the contact 1'7 for a circuit closing action. When, however, the plate 38 is in a vertical position it lies in the path of downward movement of switch arm 15 so that said arm cannot move downward sufiiciently to engage contact 1'7. Y

The rock shaft 39 has connected therewith an arm 40 which is coupledby a link 41 to the motion transmitting arm 42 of a bell crank actuating lever 43 mounted on a bracket 44 carried on the machine frame and having an actuating arm 45 engaging a control cam 46 on a shaft 4'7, a spring 48 being arranged to move the lever in the opposite direction to that in which it is moved by the cam, the cam acting once on each revolution of the-shaft to move the plate 38 to, the operative or stop position shown in Fig. 2 and the spring act-.

suitable shaft operating to drive 'cam 46 in syn-.

chronism with the needles and so timed with relation thereto that 'on each upstroke of the needles the cam will raise lever 43 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2,

.thereby swinging the arrestor or stop blade or plate 39 upward into the path of downward movement of switch arm 15, as shown in Fig. 2,

thus preventing'the switch 11 from dropping into engagement with contact 17 and closing the electric circuit in the event that slack exists in the thread, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus even in the event that the amount of existing slack should be suflicient to allow the switch to drop to closed position, any such closing movement of the switch will be prevented. On the ensuing downstroke of the needle this slack will be taken up and the thread retensioned to hold the switch in open position .unless the thread or needle breaks, in

In the case of a broken needle instead of a broken thread, the broken needle does not take up the entire amount of yarn which is pulled out from 'close the electric circuit to stop the machine.

the warp by the other threads, so that .after two or three knitting motions producing an undue amount of slack which cannot be taken up the switch on a needle downstroke will close the circuit and stop the machine. Thus it will be seen that in'a normal knitting action a certain amount of slack will be allowed to occur on the upstroke of the needle, which is liable to occur inknltting with fine yarns, without causing closing of the stop motion circuit, since the detent 38 on such movement of the needle will prevent a circuit closing movement of the switch. The degree of slack which thus occurs may be to an extent which, but for the use and such action of the detent 38, would cause the switch to close, provided that the amount of slack thus occurring may be taken up wholly or to a sufficient degree on the downstroke of the needle so as to prevent closing of the switch on such needle stroke. If, however, the thread breaks and releases the switch for closing movement or the needle breaks and cannot take up any prevailing slack and an undue amount of slack occurs, the switch will close on the first downstroke of the needle and energize the control circuit to stop the machine. By means of our invention, therefore, slack in the thread may be permitted to a certain degree without closing the control circuit, but when.

present to an undue degree will'close the circuit, so that the use of fine threads in which slack is allowed to take place on the upstroke of the needles may take place without danger of stopping the machine when stoppage is unnecessary, while at the same time closing of the control circuit and stoppage of the machine will be positively effected in case a thread breaks or in case" a needle breaks and an undue amount of l slack in a thread for this or any other cause which would result, if knitting were allowed to continue, in an imperfect fabric.

It will be understood that under normal consion exists. In using fine threads, or threads upon which a high tension cannot be placed or maintained, however, the actuating power, i. e.,

the tension in the thread, required to hold the needle to keep the switch open, or, in other words, there may be enough slack; present to allow the switch to drop to closed position. As the switch should not be permitted to close .the circuit unless thethread (or theneedle) breaks, even though the character of the thread is such that it cannot be kept taut on the upstroke of the needle; the stop member 38 is timed to be operated by the cam 46 at the period of upstroke of the needle to prevent the switch arm 15 from dropping to a position below which it is normally held by a normally tensioned thread. In other words, the member 38 is swung upward to working positionwhen the needle is inthe top position and the guides 6 are traversing to form a new stitch, as in this position there is less tension exercised on the thread. When the needle on its opposite or down stroke returns to the knock-over or passes through sinker 4, the tension created by forming a newstitch is sufficient to hold the switch in closed-position. At this stage the stop 38 is operated to fall below the plane of the contact 1'7. Therefore,--if a thread should break at this stage of the knitting action, the throw-ofi mechanism will be .actuated by closing of the switch. This will also happen in case of the breaking of a needle, since an undue: degree of slack will exist following one or more idle knitting actions thereof, which-cannot be taken up in a stitch forming action, and consequently the switch will drop and close the stop circuit.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, modeof operation and advantages of our improved stop motion mechanism for knitting machinesof the character described will be understood and its advantages appreciated by those versed in the art without a further and extended description. While the structure disclosed, for purpose of exemplification, is preferred, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportions, construction and arrangement of parts may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What we claim is:--

'1. In a stop motion for warp knitting machines, and a combination with a warp beam, a needle mechanism, thread guiding and tensioning means between the warp beam and the needlemecha nism, and a stop motion actuating member, of

actuating means for effecting actuation of said member, thread controlled means disposed in the path of travel of the thread between the thread guiding and tensioning means and the needle mechanism for energizing said actuating means on breakageof a thread or the needle engaging the same or upon a predetermined degree of slackening of a thread, and means acting in synchronism with the needle on each cycle of operation thereof for preventing energization of the actuating means by the thread controlled means during a definite portion of the needle cycle in the presence of such predetermined degree of slack in the thread.

2. In a stop motion for warp knitting machines,

and in combination with a warp beam, a needle mechanism, thread guidingand tensioning means between the warp beam and the needle mechanism, and a motion actuating member, of an electrically controlled device for locking and releasing said member, an element located in the 'path of travel of the thread between the thread guiding and .tensioning means and the needle mechanism and engaged by a thread and normally held inactive by tension thereoffor holding said member inactive and adapted on breakage or slackening of the thread to apredetermined degree to energize said member for a releasing action, and means acting in synchronism with the needle on each cycle of operation thereof for preventing action of said element in the presence of such predetermined degree of slack in the thread during a predetermined portion of such cycle of operation.

3. In a stop motion for warp knitting machines, and in combination with a warp beam, a needle mechanism,'thread guiding and tensioning means between the warp beam and the needlemechanism, and a motion actuating device, of a latch device for normally holding the motion actuating device from operation, an electric circuit including the latch device, a switch device'controlling the said circuit, said switch device being arranged in the path of travel of a thread between the thread guiding and tensioning means and the needle mechanism and normally engaged 'and held by tension of a feeding thread in open position and adapted on breakage of the thread or breakage of the needle and slackening of the thread to a predetermined degree to close the circuit, and means for preventing action of the switch on the upstroke of the needle in the presence of slack in the thread of a degree greater than can be normally taken up by an unbroken needle on the ensuing downstroke of the needle.

4. In a stop motion for warp knitting machines, and in combination with a warp beam, a needle mechanism, thread guiding and tensioning means between the warp beam and the needle mechanism, of a motion actuating device, an electrically operated latch device for normally holding said motion actuating device from action, an electric circuit for energizing said latch device, a pivotally mounted gravity closed switch controlling said adapted on a predetermined degree of slack in the mechanism, thread guiding and tensioning means between the warp beam and the needle mechanism, of a motion actuating member, a latch for locking and releasing the same, an electric circuit adapted when closed and energized to retract said latch, a switch arranged in the path I of travel of a thread between the thread guiding and tensioning means and the'needle mechanism and engageable by a thread and normally held in a normal condition of the thread in open position and adapted on breakage of the thread or breakage of the needle and a predetermined degree of slack in the thread to close the circuit, and means operating in synchronism with the needle for preventing circuit closing action of the switch in the presence of such predetermined degree of. slack in the thread during a predetermined portion of said cycle.

6. In a'stop' motion for warp knitting machines,

of a needle action, a motion actuating device, a

latch device for locking and releasing the same, an electric circuit for operating said latch and including a switch .arranged in the path of travel of a thread betweenthe thread guiding and tensioning means and the needle mechanism and operative on breaking of a thread 'orneedle or a predetermined degree of slack in the thread to close the circuit, and means movable in the path of the switch for preventing circuit closing action of the switch at a predetermined time period in each operating cycle of the needle action. 7. In a stop motion for warp knitting machines, a needle action, a stop motion actuating device, a latch device for locking and releasing the same, an electric circuit for operating said latch and including a switch normally held open by an intact thread and operative on breaking of the thread or upon a predetermined degree of slack in the thread to close the 'circuit, a shaft, a cam actuated by the shaft, and means operated by the cam for preventing a closing action of the switch at a predetermined time period in each operating cycle of the needle action. 8. In a stop motion mechanism for warp knitting machines, and in combination with thread guiding and tensioningmeans and a reciprocating needle, stop motion mechanism normally operative on the breakage of a thread or needle and the presence of a predetermined degree of slack in the thread to stop the machine, and means op-- erative on each operating cycle of a needle to prevent response of the stop motion mechanism to slack existing in the thread engaged thereby during upward movement of the needle.

9. In a stop motion mechanism for warp knitting machines, and in combination with thread guiding means, and a reciprocating needle, stop motion mechanism including a control circuit, a switch member for closing said circuit, engaged and normally held by a feeding thread in open position and adapted on breakage of the thread or the needle and of an undue degree of slack occurring in the thread to close the circuit, and means movable into the path of said switch member on each operating cycle of the needle to prevent a closing movement thereof during a portion of such cycle of operation when the unbroken thread is normally slack.

10. 'In a stop motion mechanism for warp knitting machines, and in combination with thread .guiding means and a reciprocating needle, stop motion mechanism including a control circuit, a switch member for closing said circuit, engaged and normally held by a feeding thread in open position and adapted on breakage of the thread or. the needle and-of. an undue degree of slack occurring in the thread to close the circuit, and means operating in synchronism with the needle and movable into-the path of closing movement of saidswitch member on each operating cycle of the needle to prevent a circuit closing action thereof during a portion ofsuch cycle of operation when the thread is normally slack.

1 1. In a stop motion mechanism for warp knitting machines, and in combination with thread guiding means, and a reciprocatingneedle, stop motion mechanism including a control circuit,

aswitch member for closing said circuit, engaged and normally held by a feeding thread inopen position and adapted on breakage of the thread or the needle and of an undue degree of 'slack occurring in the thread to close the circuit, and means movable into the path of said switch memher for preventing a circuit closing action thereof on each upward movement of the'needle. 12; In'a stop motion mechanism for warp knitting machines; and in combination with thread guiding means, and a reciprocating needle, stop -motion mechanism including a control circuit, a switch member for closing said circuit, engaged and normally held by a feeding thread'in open position and adapted on breakage of the thread or the needle and of an undue degree of slack occurring in the thread to close the circuit, a

shaft, a cam operated by the shaft, and means controlled and operated by said cam and acting in synchronism with the needle for arresting a switch closing motion of the switch member in the presence of slack in the thread during an upward movement of the needle when the thread \and needle are in intact condition.

13. In a stop motion for looms employing .a controlling circuit for setting into action the stopping mechanism, the combination with the needle action of the machine, and warp for controlling said circuit, said switch being engaged and normally held from action by a feeding warp thread under v thread and adapted upon breakage of the thread or needle or upon the presence of an abnormal degree of slack in the thread to be released for actionto energize said circuit, and a stop device operating in synchronism with the needle ac.

thread supplying and tensioning means, a switch no tension of said tion to. prevent circuit energizing action of the switch at a stage on each cycle of operation of a needle actionwhen the thread engaged jthere- 'by normally is slack.

14. In a stop motion for looms employing a.

controlling circuit for setting into action the stopping mechanism, the combination with the needle action of the machine, and warp thread supplying, and tensioning means, a switch for controlling said circuit, said switch being engaged and normally held from action by a feeding warp thread undertension of said thread and adapted upon breakage of the thread or needle or upon the presence of an abnormal degree of slack in the thread to be released for action to energize said circuit, and a stop device operating in synchronismlwith the needle action and on each upward movement of a needle to prevent circuit energizing action of the switch in the presence of slack in the thread engaged thereby.

15. In a stop motion for looms employing a controlling circuit for settinginto action the stopping mechanism, the combination with the needle action of the machine, and warp thread supplying and tensioning means, a switch for controlling said circuit, said switch being engaged and normally held. from action by a feeding warp thread under tension of said thread action to energize said circuit, a stop device movable into and out of the path of circuit energizing movement of the switch, and a cam shaft operating in synchronism with the needle actionto move said stop device to obstruct circuit energizing movement of the switch on each cycle of operation of a needle at such time as when the needle is on its upward movement and the thread engaged thereby is normally slack. v

16. In a stop motion for warp knitting machines, and in combination with warp supplying and tensioningmeans and a-needle action, a stop mechanism, a controlling circuit for setting the same into action, a switch device for energizing and deenergizing said circuit, said switch device being normally engaged and held in deenergizing position by a tensioned thread, and means operating in synchronism with the needle action and movable intothe path of said switch on each upstroke of the needles to prevent circuit deenergizing movement thereof on such needle stroke in the presence of slack in the thread.

17. In a stop motion for warp knitting machines, and in combination with warp supply- I ing and tensioningmeans and a needle action, a

stop mechanism, a controlling circuit for setting the same into action, a switch device for energizing and deenergizing said circuit, said switch device being normally engaged and held in deenergizin position by a tensioned thread, and cam operated means operating in synchronismi with the needle action and embodying a part movable on each cycle of operation of the needle action into. the path of said switch device to prevent circuit energizing movement thereof in the presence of slack in the thread:

18. In a .stop motion for warp knitting ma-' chines, and in combination with warp supplying and tensioning means and a needle action, a stop mechanism, a controlling circuit for setting the same into action, a switch device for energizing and deenergizing said circuit, said switch device being normally engaged and held in deenergizing position by a tensioned thread, and means operating in synchronism with the needle action and movable on each cycle of operation thereof into the path of circuit energizing movement of the switch to prevent such movement of said switch at such period in the needle action as when the thread is in normally slack condition.

PAUL H. QUICK.

EARL W. SIMPSON. 

